A couple of weeks back I purchased a '93 DRW D350. There were some electrical issues, that have been taken care of (thanks to all of you who assisted). It's got 4.11, or thereabout, gears. As I plan to do a lot of commuting a better gear ratio is in the plan. I found a '96 DRW D80 nearby; open diff with 3.54's. Did a quick search, on the Internet, and it appears it will pretty much bolt right in. From reading, it appears the drive shaft needs to be shortened. By observation, the new axle has staggered shocks; that needs to be taken care of too.

Well, I already pulled the trigger by buying this axle. But, anyone have any advice that can help with the install?

 

this guy has one
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...e-t307211.html

 

Thanks for the link. It is always fun to read what others are doing.

Well, it is under the truck and bolted to the stock springs. The spring perches needed a bit of grinding to provide clearance for the U-bolts. The D70 brake line/vent brass "Y" was used and the D80 brake lines slightly rerouted. The D80 shock mounts were cut off; will be using the D70 shock mounts. The spring center bolt on the D70 is much smaller in diameter than the D80; a bushing will be in there soon. The clearance between the fuel tank and differential will be very close.

 

FlatNose, please take some pictures of what you've done up to this point as well as more as the swap progresses. I'd love to see what modifications are required for such a swap. Plus, the only thread in The Sticky doesn't have very good pictures of what that member did.

I was under the impression that the spring perches needed to be moved on the tubes. Or am I mistaken?

 

Jim, I will document this sometime in the future. For now the old D70 is going back on. I came upon a small, but expensive, roadblock -- the D80 brakes are too large for the 16" dually wheels.

 

So, go buy the wheels that were originally on the '96 D-80, which are also 16" ones.
I certainly wouldn't even attempt to run the 1st gen wheels on there, anyway.

Mark.

 

I checked with the seller. Wheels are available. They are 16.5. The axle came out of a flatbed, V10.

The D70 is back in the truck. When I find the right wheels the swap will take place. On the plus side, I have clean brake fluid

 

I would really like to see a detailed wright up. Is this gonna require different wheels front to back?

 

Will a D80 13" drum fit on a 90 2wd 16" rim?